Tear strip applying mechanism for gum stick wrapping machines



NOV- 9, 1943- w. B. RANNEY ETAL 24,334,030

vTEAR STRIP APPLYING MECHANISM FOR GUM STICK WRAPPING MACHINES OriginalFiled April l, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Il Q Nov. 9, 1943. w. a. RANNEY Erm. 2,334,030

TEAR STRIP APPLYING MECHANISM FOR GUM STICK WRAPPING MACHINES l originalFiled Apri; 1,` 1940 5 Sheets-sheet 2 55 j? BY mwgelzf WMM MMM@ NOV- 9,1943 w. B. RANNEY Erm. 2,334,030

TEAR STRIP APPLYING MECHANISM FOR GUM STICK WRAPPING MACHINES OriginaliFiled April 1, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 WMM/5mm INVENTORS.

f Nov. 9, 1943. -w B. RANNEY Erm. 2,334,030

TEAR STRIPv APPLYING MCHANISM FOR STICK WRAPPING MACHINES v OriginalFiled April l, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 so y IIIII NOV. 9, 1943. w. B.RANNEY ETAL TEAR STRIP APPLYING MECHANISM FOR GUM STICK WRAPPINGMACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheva?l 5 Original Filed April 1, 1940 l www.

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Patented Nov. 9, 1943 TEAR STRIP APPLYDWG MECHANISMl FOR GUM STICKWRAPPING MACHINES Wllet B. Ranney, Chicago, Conn., assignors to Wm.Wrigley Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Ruhf, Cos Cob, Jr. Company,Delaware Ill., and Albert F.

Original application April 1, 1940, Serial No.

Divided and this application February 17, 1943, Serial No. 476,174

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in gum stick wrapping machinesand consists of the matters hereinafter described and more par ticularlypointed out in the appended claims.

More specically the invention relates to an automatic machine forwrapping and sealing sin gle sticks in wrappers severed from acontinuously fed wrapper-forming web wider than the sticks, having onits bottom surface display panels for the top and bottom of a wrapperspaced at predetermined lateral and longitudinal intervals, bydepositing sticks on said web at like longitudinal intervals in registerwith the display panels to appear on the bottom'of the wrapper, thenfolding said web laterally and sealing it to form a fiat, continuoustube presenting the top panels in register with the tops of the sticks,thereafter severing said tube into wrapper lengths with like tubular endprojections, and then sealing and folding said projections uponthemselves and closing them against the ends of the enclosed sticks.

In order to open a wrapped stick of the kind, it is preferable to applytransversely to the wrapper-forming web a tear strip. This tear strip isapplied to the web at equal distances apart and extends transverselythereof. It also' projects slightly at one edge.

The object of the invention is to provide in such a machine a mechanismfor severing tearing strips from a continuously fed web and applying andsealing them at predetermined intervals to the advancing wrapper-formingweb in position to tear the sealed wrapper transversely to remove thestick.

This application is a division of our applica- Figure 6 is a sectionthrough Figure 1 in a plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the feeding, cutting, gluing andstrip mechanism for severing and gluing the tearing strip to the wrapperstrip.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of some of the parts showndiagrammatically in Figure '7.

`Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the stripper belt, tearingstrip and wrapper-forming web with a tearing strip applied to saidWrapper web.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, partly in sectionand partly in front elevation, in the vertical plane of one of thestripper belts including the pulleys for said belts and a speed-controlmechanismv therefor.

Figure 11 is a partial horizontal section through Figure 10 in a planeindicated by the tion filed April 1, 1940, Serial No. 327,262, for

Gum stick wrapping machine.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a partial iront elevation showing the feed end of a machineof the kind described,

'and the tearing strip, feeding, cutting and gluing devices for applyingthe tearing strip to the forwardly moving wrapper-iorming web.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the tearing strip severed andspot-glued as when applied to the wrapper web. o

Figure 3 is a section through Figure 1 in planes indicatedby the brokenline 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section in a plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectionin a vertical plane'of the partsenclosed in Figure 4 by the line lI-ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional View on an venlarged scale in a planeindicated by the line i2-I2 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a vplan section of the part shown in Figure 12 indicated bythe line |3l3 of Fig- Figure 14 is a view partially in section andpartially in elevation on an enlarged scale in a plane indicated by theline l-Ill of Figure 13.

Referring now to that embodiment oi the invention shown in the drawings:I5 indicates the left-hand feed end of a wrapping machine for wrappingand sealing single sticks of the kind hereinbefore described. IBindicates a drum about which is fed an endless, horizontally disposedfeed belt Il, the other end oisaid belt being supported by a similardrum (not shown).A The drum It rotates clockwise, as indicated by thearrow shown thereon in Figure 1, so that the upper lap of the beltadvancesfrom the left or loading end of the machine toward the right orfinishing end (not shown). f f

I8 indicates the wrapper-forming web which is drawn from a spool (notshown) in a familiar manner. Said web passes about the drum I6 inContact with the top lap of the feed belt Il toward the right. The webis wider than the sticks to be wrapped, and in thejoperation of thewrapping machine itis folded laterally and sealed about. the sticks toform a at, continuous tube which is thereafter severed intowrapperlengths, and the ilat tubular ends thereoffare `folded uponthemselves and sealed against the ends.- ofithe sticks. I

The mechanismfor applying the tear strips to vthe advancingl stickwrapper-forming web is web is fed about tension rolls to a feed roll 24(see Figures 1 and 6) with which it is held in contact by a tension roll25 mounted on a sprlngcontrolled arm 26 pivoted onthe housing. From Athefeed roll 24 the web passes loosely between idle rolls 21 and thencebetween feed rolls 23, 29.

One of said rolls 29 carries spring-loaded gripper blades 33, spaced atequal distances about the roll and projecting slightly beyond itssurface to grip the web 2,3 against the roll 28.

3| indicates a transfer roll, which is engaged by a cutting roll`32.Said cutting roll carries equally spaced spring-loaded, radiallyprojecting cutting blades 32 which are adapted to engage the transferroll. Said transfer roll is provided with shearing inserts 33 (seeFigure 5) set into its surface at points adapted to be-engaged by thecutting blades 32* in the rotation of the two rolls. The transfer roll3| is provided adjacent the inserts 33, 33 on the leading side withsuction ports 34 connected to air ducts 35 extending parallel to theaxis of the roll. Said ducts register with and open into an arcuate,port 33 in a plate 33 (see Figure 3) against which the end of the roll3| has wiping engagement and which is connected to an exhaust pipe 31(see Figure 1) by a duct 31' registering with said port. Said arcuateport 33 bridges two of the ducts 35 and extends nearly to a third duct35 as shown in Figure 4.

The transfer roll 3| is engaged -by a second transfer roll 33 whichcontacts the wrapperforming web I3. It contains within it means formingfixed, laterally spaced discs 4I disposed eccentrically of and below theaxis of rotation of said transfer roll. Upon said discs are rotativelymounted pulley rings 42 for endless stripper cords 43 which are adaptedto disengage the severed tear strips from said second transfer'roll anddeposit it on the web 3, as shown in Figure 4.

The second transfer roll 33 is provided with suction ports 33 openingthrough its surface at points spaced at distances equal to the distancesof the suction ports on the transfer roll 3|, but has an additional portbecause of its larger diam'- eter. Said ports are connected by lsuitableducts to an exhaust pipe 33 in a manner similar to that described in thecase of the transfer roll 3| and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The second transfer roll 33 is comprised of three laterally spacedsections fixed on a horizontal shaft 43 (see Figures 3 and 11). `Inter-A mediate said sections are the laterally spaced discs 4I which providebearing for grooved pulley rings 42, 32 about which pass cord belts 43,43 (see Figures 4 to 11, inclusive). The other ends of said belts areconnected to grooved driving pulleys 44 (see Figure V10). 'I'heconstruction de -scribed and shown provides annular spaces openingthrough the periphery of the transfer roll 33 in the plane of and aboutthe grooved rings 42 for the entrance of the cord belts 43 and also forthe introduction of bracket arms 33 which are fixed to the eccentricallymounted discs 4| and attached to the near face of the housing 23. Thisprevents the rotation of said eccentric discs 4| but permits the groovedrings 42 to rotate there- The center of rotation of the grooved pulleyskthat the surface of the roll continues in a circular path rising abovethe level of the cords which travel with and at the same speed as thewrapper-forming web I3. The operation of this mechanism is clearlyillustrated in the diagrammatic views, Figures '7 to 9, inclusive.

The transfer roll 38 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 43 (see Figures land 3), and the transfer roll 3| and the cutter roll 32 are mountedrespectively on horizontal shafts 3 |x and 32X. Said shafts areconnected respectively by gears 43S, 3|g and 32g. By this means thecutter roll 32, the first transfer roll 3| and the second transfer roll38 are geared to rotate in unison at the same peripheral speed in thedirections indicated respectively by the arrows applied to said rolls inFigure l. Said shaft 43 carries a sprocket 46 driven by a sprocket chain43a. The feed roll 24 (see Figures 1 and 6) is mounted on a horizontalshaft 24X, and the feed roll 23 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 28x.with the gear 3|' of the first transfer roll 3| which in turn mesheswith a pinion 43 on a horizontal countershaft 43. The pinion 43g engagesand drives a gear 28S on the shaft 28"l of the feed roll 23. Said gear23g engages and drives a gear 23sr fixed on the shaft i9x of the feedroll 29. A gear 24 is mounted on the shaft 24x of the feed roll 24. Saidgear-is driven by intermediate gearing 438, 23z and 288. Thecountershaft 43 is connected by sprockets and chain 53 to a horizontalshaft 5| which projects forward from the face of the housing I9 into aglue-pot 52 wherein it has fixed to it a glue roll Associated with saidroll is a rotary glue paddle 53 fixed upon a horizontalshaft 54 inposition to transfer glue from the glue roll 52n to the tear strip 23xin spots 23Y, as indicated in Figure 2. Said shaft 54 has nxed to it agear 54* which is engaged and driven by gear 55 mounted on the shaft 5|.(See Figure 6.)

Referring now briefly to the operation of the mechanism above describedfor severing a strip from the tear strip web 23: Said web is fedcontinuously by the feed roll 24 tothe rolls 23, 23 by which it isintermittently fed. there being an excess feed from the roll 24 to thefeed'rolls 23 and-29 as indicated by the loop 23z shown inv Figure 1.

The-rolls 23 and 29 rotate continuously. But the blades 33 carriedthereby are brought to engagement with the web 23 intermittently to feedthe web 23 a distance equal to the predetermined width of the tear strip23x. vSimilarly the cutter blades of the cutter roll 32 come to engagethe shearing inserts 3|* of the transfer roll 3| at successive intervalsequal to those of the feed roll 23. And the intervals are coincidentwith the intervals of operation of the roll 23. As a result, the widthof strip fed by the feed rolls 23 and 23 is severed by the cutter rollblades 32.

As the tear strip is sheared from the web 23 it is subjected to the pullat the suction port 34 and held to the surface of the transfer roll 3|.In the continuous rotation of the transfer roll 3| the said tear stripis retained on said roll until said strip is brought to engagement withThe gear 43g meshes' the second transfer roll 38. As this time thevacuum exerted at the suction port 34 through arcuate port 36 and duct35 is broken. A suction port 39 in the second transfer roll 38 picks upsaid tear strip and carries it until it is'brought to position inengagement Withjthe top of the Wrapper Web IB, when the vacuum isbroken. At that point the tear strip is stripped from the transfer rollas hereinbefore described, and deposited upon the web i8.

Prior to the deposit of the tear strip on said Web I8, as it is carriedabout by the transfer roll 38, spots of glue ZUY are deposited on thetear strip by the glue paddle 53. The glue spots are spaced on the tearstrip as are the cords 43, so that said cords will engage the stripsabove said glue spots and will hold said strips to the web until theglue is set.

The sprocket chain 46a which drives the shaft 4I) of the secondarytransfer roll 38 for the tear strip is operatively connected by anysuitable mechanism, as for example by that shown in the application ofwhich this is a division, to a power shaft in such manner as to drivesaid shaft I0 in timed relation to the feed of the web I8. The grooveddriving pulley 44 for the cord belts 43 are also operably connected withsuitable driving mechanism, as for example by that shown in theapplication of Which this is ay division, so as to drive said belts intimed relation to the feed of said web I8, as hereinbefore described.

We claim as our invention:

l. In combination, means for. advancing a Wrapper-forming web, means foradvancing a tear-strip-forming-web of a Width equal to the requiredlength of said tear strips, cutter means including a transfer roll forintermittently severing said second web transversely into tearingstrips, a second transfer roll intermediate said nrst transfer roll andsaid Wrapper-web, said transfer rolls being constructed to transfer saidtearing strips successively and in predetermined spaced relation fromsaid cutter and apply them to said wrapper-web, ard means for strippingsaid tearing strips from said second transfer roll and for holding themagainst said wrapper-Web.

2. In combination, meansA for advancing a Wrapper-forming web, means foradvancing a tear-strip-forming-web of a width equal to the requiredlength of said tear strips, cutter means including a transfer roll forintermittently sever- .ing said second web transversely lnto tearingstrips, means for applying adhesive to said strips,

a second transfer roll intermediate said first l transfer roll and saidwrapper-Web, said transfer rolls being constructed to transfer saidtearing strips -successively and in predetermined spaced relation fromsaid cutter and apply it to said Wrapper-web, and means for strippingsaid tearing strips from said second transfer roll and for holding themagainst said wrapper-Web until said adhesive is set.

3. In combination, means for advancing a Wrapper-forming web, means foradvancing a tear-strip-forming-web of a Width equal to the requiredlength of said tear strips, coacting feed rolls adapted to advance saidsecond web a distance equal to the designed Width of said tearingstrips, coacting cutter and transfer rolls adapted to sever a tearingstrip which is picked up and advanced by said transfer roll, a secondtransfer roll engaging on one side said first transfer roll and onits-other side said wrapper-web, said second transfer roll beingprovided with spaced parallel transverse grooves, means providingnonrotatable cccentrically disposed discs in the planes of said grooves,rotative rings on said discs, endless parallel strip cords mounted onsaid rings With their bottom laps advancing on said Wrapper-Web, anddriving pulleys engaged with said strip cords.

4. In combination, means for advancing a Wrapper-formingv Web, means foradvancing a tear-strip-forming-web of a width equal to the requiredlength of said tear strips,'coacting feed rolls adapted to advance saidsecond web a distance equal to the designed width of said tearingstrips, coacting cutter and transfer rolls adapted to sever a tearingstrip which is picked up and advanced byv said transfer roll, a secondtransfer roll engaging on one side said first transfer roll and on itsother side said wrapper-web, means for applying adhesive to said stripsas they are advanced by said second transfer roll, said second transferroll being provided with spaced parallel transverse grooves, meansproviding non-rotat-l able, eccentrically disposed discs in the planesof said grooves, rotative rings on said discs, endless parallel stripcords mounted on said rings with their bottom laps advancing on saidWrapper- Web, and driving pulleys engaged with said strip cords.

5. In combination, means for advancing a Wrapper-forming web, means foradvancing a tear-strip-forming-web of a Width equal to the requiredlength of said tear strips, a cutter roll provided with annularly spacedradial blades extending transversely of said second web, a transfer rollhaving similarly spaced shearing inserts coacting with said cutterblades and provided with adjacent suction ports to pick said strips fromsaid cutter roll, a second transfer roll engaged With the first namedtransfer roll on one side and With said wrapper-Web on its other sideprovided with like annularly spaced suction ports to pick said stripsfrom said first transfer roll, and means for exhausting air from theports of said two transfer rolls in timed relation such that the tearstrips are picked up by the first, transferred to the second, andreleased by the second when in contact with said wrapper-Web.

6. In combination, means for advancing a Wrapper-forming web, means foradvancing a tear-strip forming web of a width equal to the requiredlength of said tear-strips, cutter means for intermittently severingsaid second web transversely into tearing strips, and means fortransferring said severed tear-strips from said cutter means andapplying them in predetermined spaced relation on said wrapper web, andtransversely of the latter.

7. In combination, means for advancing a wrapper-forming web, means foradvancing a tear-strip forming Web of a width equal to the requiredlength of said tear-strips, cutter means for intermittently severingsaid second web transversely into tearing strips, and means fortransferring said severed tear-strips from said cutter means andapplying them in predetermined spaced relation on'said Wrapper web, andtransversely of the latter, including a transfer roll having grippingmeans rotating at the same peripheral speed as the rate of advance ofsaid Wrapper web.

8. In combination, means for advancing a wrapper-forming web, means foradvancing a tear-strip forming web of a width equal to the requiredlength of said tear-strips, cutter means for intermittently severingsaid second web transversely into tearing strips, and means for wrapperweb, means for applying adhesive to said strips while gripped on saidtransfer roll, and means for stripping said tearing strips from saidtransfer roll and holding them against said 5 Wrapper web until theadhesive is set.

wILLE'r B, RANNEY. ALBERT F. RUHF.

